Half-dozen ex-Cats enjoy the memories at Calipari's camp

No fewer than six NBA ex-Cats were on hand in Memorial Coliseum for Coach John Calipari's Procamp on Wednesday.In addition to Nerlens Noel and Archie Goodwin, who met the media earlier in the week, there were Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Eric Bledsoe and DeMarcus Cousins.

Former UK players Eric Bledsoe, left, and Anthony Davis, right, watched as former UK player DeMarcus Cousins blocked a shot by a camper during the 2013 Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp held in Memorial Coliseum on the UK campus on Wednesday.
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Former Kentucky players Anthony Davis, left, and Eric Bledsoe listened Wednesday as Kentucky coach John Calipari spoke to campers at the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum. The Pro Camps were split into three separate camps; Wednesday's session was for grades K-5. Several former UK basketball players are helping with the camps. More than 900 campers are expected to attend the camps.
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Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari spoke with former UK players DeMarcus Cousins, middle, and Eric Bledsoe on Wednesday at the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum.
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Jaden Columbia, 8, of Lexington had his shot blocked by former Kentucky basketball player Anthony Davis on Wednesday during the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum.
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Jaden Columbia, 8, of Lexington laughed while chasing down the ball after former Kentucky basketball player Anthony Davis blocked his shot Wednesday during the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum.
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Campers listened to Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari on Wednesday at the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum.
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Former Kentucky basketball player Nerlens Noel mingled with campers Wednesday at the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum.
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Former Kentucky basketball player DeMarcus Cousins jokingly blocked a shot by Indred Whitaker, 7, on Wednesday at the Prasco John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum.
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Former Kentucky players Eric Bledsoe, left, and Anthony Davis had fun at a news conference Wednesday at the 2013 John Calipari Pro Camp in Memorial Coliseum. The Pro Camps were split into three separate camps; Wednesday's session was for grades K-5. Several former UK basketball players are helping with the camps. More than 900 campers are expected to attend the camps.
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Earlier in the day, it was revealed that Davis' New Orleans Pelicans will play an exhibition in Rupp Arena on Oct. 19, taking on John Wall and the Washington Wizards.

"It's going to be fun to get back to Lexington and the University of Kentucky," Davis said. "It's always great to come back and play where you went to school, so it should be a fun game."

Davis is coming off a rookie year in which he averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds.

More recently, he took part in a USA Basketball mini-camp, in preparation for next year's World Championships. Davis picked up valuable international experience last year as the only non-NBA veteran on Team USA's Olympic gold-medal team.

"Great," Davis said of his mini-camp experience. "You always want to represent your country. ... Last year was fun. But I'm trying to do the same thing next year and, hopefully, I can make it."

Kidd-Gilchrist called his participation "a humbling experience. ... I was surprised I made the mini-camp. Hoping I make the team."

Cousins, who averaged 17.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in his third season with the Sacramento Kings, also participated in the mini-camp, as did Wall.

The sometimes-temperamental big man indicated he has settled down.

"I'm 22 now and in my fourth season," he said. "I've matured."

Suns and brothers

Bledsoe, after three seasons in a backup role with the Los Angeles Clippers, is now with the Phoenix Suns.

"It's been a great experience," said Bledsoe, who averaged 8.5 points, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals last season. "Playing behind (NBA All-Star) Chris (Paul), I learned a lot. Now I get a chance to play the point. ... It's a great feeling that I get to orchestrate a little bit."

His Phoenix teammates include recent first-round draft pick Goodwin.

"Archie's only 18," Bledsoe said. "He's got a lot to learn and he's still growing as a person, too. Archie's going to be a pretty good player in the league."

■ Kidd-Gilchrist on what he misses from his UK days: "In college, it was a brotherhood. Now, it's just grown men around me. I'm just growing up fast."

■ After seeing Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan on an almost daily basis, Kidd-Gilchrist no longer has stars in his eyes.

"But when I first got there, I was shocked," he said. "And I was shocked I was the No. 2 pick in the whole draft. He taught me a lot. I talk to him like every week, so it's a good feeling."

■ The second annual UK Alumni Charity Game in Rupp Arena is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 9. Members of all four of UK's Calipari-coached teams will participate, but it will boil down to 2010 vs. the 2012 national championship team.

■ Calipari's second annual Fantasy Experience is set for Sept. 7 to 9. Last year's inaugural camp raised more than $300,000 for charity. Attendees (age 35 and older) receive instruction from Calipari, his staff and former UK greats. There also are social events, including a dinner at Calipari's home.